In the Netherlands, archaeologists discovered a 4000 year old building that they believe was a holy complex used for purposes comparable to those of the well-known Stonehenge. For this reason, it has been dubbed the “Stonehenge of the Netherlands” in the local media.
According to a statement from the municipality of the town of Tiel, the site has an old burial mound holding the bones of close to 60 men, women, and children. The mound, which was discovered some 70 kilometers east of Rotterdam, also acted as a solar calendar and had various openings through which the sun shone on the longest and shortest days of the year.
“What a spectacular archaeological discovery! Archaeologists have found a 4000 year old religious sanctuary on an industrial site. This is the first time a site like this has been discovered in the Netherlands. The largest mound served as a sun calendar, similar to the famous stones of Stonehenge in England.” it said in a Facebook post.
Archaeologists believe the sanctuary was a “highly significant” location for the inhabitants of the period, aiding them in keeping track of notable days throughout the year.
According to the Independent, poles were discovered at the site, most likely standing next to walkways used for parades. Archaeologists claim that ancient people performed rituals and buried their dead here.
In one of the graves uncovered by archaeologists, a woman was buried with a glass bead from Mesopotamia, or modern day Iraq. The bead, the oldest ever discovered in the Netherlands, implies that humans who lived here may have had touch with individuals approximately 5,000 kilometers distant.
Over a million artifacts from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman Empire, and Middle Ages were found at the site, experts said. Some of these will be showcased in a local museum in Tiel and at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities.